"I decided to apply for the Research Master in Asian Studies because I wanted to develop my research interests related to Chinese philosophy and, while doing so, learn about the tools and methodologies that a researcher should acquire. During my studies in Leiden, I was able to build my own curriculum by choosing courses related to my field of interest and, at the same time, I learned about the fundamental issues and methods of Area Studies.”

“I am currently a PhD student in Philosophy (School of Humanities) at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, where I was awarded a four years scholarship. My research project focuses on the relations between European rationalism and Neo-Confucianism, two traditions that have been compared in both Europe and China during different historical periods. Because of the skills and knowledge I have aquired during the Research Master in Leiden I started my PhD with confidence and I am now able to work independently. "

"After participating in the Netherlands-Asia Honours Summer School, I soon realised that we need to acknowledge the significance of Asia as a force of global change in order to nourish the global function of our institutions. In order to break free from my rather Eurocentric understanding of the humanities, I applied for the research master programme in Asian Studies."

Critical attitude and inquisitive mind-set

"During the programme, I learned to develop a critical attitude and inquisitive mind-set. Although most research master students have the ambition to pursue an academic career, I believe that the advanced conceptual, analytical and interpretative skills gained during the programme are extremely valuable in any given professional setting."

Significant impact

"I currently work as a policy advisor at the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). This is a governmental organisation that is tasked with providing an expert and objective assessment of the quality of higher education in the Netherlands and Flanders. I feel that the experiences gained through the programme, such as presenting at international conferences and publishing some of my research papers not only contributed to my academic track record, but also had significant impact on my personal development."

"Although I was not yet certain what I wanted to do for my career, I knew I loved research and wanted to continue developing my knowledge of Chinese politics—the focus of my undergraduate degree. The research master’s in Asian Studies offered exactly that: classes with leading researchers in my field plus lots of opportunities to develop my research skills."

"After graduating in late 2020, I first worked as an Analyst for Europe’s largest think tank on contemporary China, where I published a book on the Social Credit System, advised governments on their engagements with China, and acted as a media expert. I have since returned ‘back home’ as a PhD Candidate at Leiden University. This work focuses on natural language processing-based methodologies for the analysis of contemporary Chinese policy. The single best part of the programme was that it trained me to conduct independent and original research at a high level. These are simply the top requirements for any research-related position, both in academia and beyond. It especially provided ample opportunities for (digital) fieldwork and training in writing. During my ‘fieldwork’, I even developed the programming skills that are crucial in every day of my work."